NGC 1027
Amy Jonkman

Open cluster of stars are an irregularly shaped group of stars that are relatively young. They are formed from the collapse of part of a giant molecular cloud. They are loosely held together by mutual gravitation and through interation from other clusters and the small mass giving them the ability for escape velocity, they begin to migrate out of their cluster. They can survive for a few hundred million years. Because the stars in the cluster are of similar age and chemical composition they are a key to understanding stellar evolution. Over 1,100 open clusters have been found in the Milkyway Galaxy. They can be only found in spiral or irregular galaxies.

This image is the open cluster NCG1027. It is in the constellation Cassiopeia. It has a magnitude of 6.7. It is a young cluster as many open clusters are. Like other open clusters, there are many blue stars with a few red giants thrown about.Blue stars are the most massive cluster members and last the shortest time. Their presence lets us know the cluster is young. Many of the more luminous stars are grouping in the center of the cluster.